South Africa may axe drug approval body

SOUTH AFRICA'S Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, advocates a diet of garlic and vitamins to combat the spread of HIV. She may soon get her way, if the country's parliament votes for a draft bill that will abolish South Africa's independent drug approval body.

The Medicines Control Council (MCC), established in 1965, approves all new drugs - from anti-fungals to sexual performance enhancers. Although the minister of health appoints its officers and 146 volunteer scientists, the body reports directly to parliament.

The MCC has a track record of clashing with health ministers. In 2000, it blocked human testing of virodene, a toxic industrial solvent promoted by a former health minister as an AIDS treatment. More recently, the MCC's approval of nevirapine, an anti-retroviral which halves HIV transmission rates in breastfeeding mothers, was used to overturn Tshabalala-Msimang's attempts to ban the drug.

Under the new bill, the council would no longer ...

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